Speaking to the European Parliament, Nicolas Schmit set out the action taken by the EU with the aim of finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria - Hoofdinhoud
Nicolas Schmit, the Luxembourg Minister responsible for relations with the European Parliament during the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU, addressed the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 7 October 2015. He was speaking on behalf of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini i, during the debate devoted to the situation in Syria.
"Europe must handle the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, including the flows of refugees"
After five years of this "terrible conflict", "there is still little sign of peace on the horizon", lamented Nicolas Schmit prior to giving an overview of the conflict which has killed 250,000 people and displaced 12 million, nearly half of the country’s population, of which 4 million have left for Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. "We are all aware that many of these refugees are now trying to reach Europe in search of peace and a more humane life", continued Nicolas Schmit. "Europe must handle the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, including the flows of refugees", he stated.
The European Union, the biggest international donor, has already spent EUR 4 billion and intends to spend more, not only on immediate aid for refugees, providing them with shelter and food, but also on essential services such as health and education, explained the Minister. An additional EUR 1 billion will be mobilised, he added. "Syria is losing a whole generation to war and exile", lamented the Minister, who believes that education alone can give a future to a whole country. He hopes that, by the end of the year, the EUR 500 million that the EU is channelling into the new Trust Fund for Syria will be matched by Member State contributions.
For Nicolas Schmit, that it is a "huge financial effort, reflecting the scale of the crisis". But this effort will not in itself halt the refugee flow from Syria, said the Minister. He believes that only when there is hope for an end to the war, and prospects for a return home, will the current refugee crisis head towards a conclusion.
"Ending the Syrian war needs a two-track approach: fighting against the terrorist threat and supporting the political process led by the United Nations"
Nicolas Schmit referred to the growing consensus, within the international community, that ending the Syrian war needs a two-track approach. We need to fight the terrorist threat posed by ISIL/Da’esh, a threat which is spreading beyond the region and, in parallel, we need to do all we can to support the political process led by the UN Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to get the Syrians talking to each other again.
With regard to the fight against terrorism, the Minister explained that the EU is not involved militarily, but it actively supports, using non-military means, the objectives of the Global Coalition against ISIL/Da'esh. This involves reducing the threats of radicalisation and the recruitment of new foreign terrorist fighters in European countries, and seeing what can be done to stop the flow of revenues to ISIL/Da'esh.
"It is in supporting the UN-led peace efforts that the EU has most to contribute", stated Nicolas Schmit. He believes that the various regional and international actors who have a substantial influence on the Syrian parties must take on their responsibilities and finally bring all players to the table for serious negotiations. The EU is able to engage with all relevant regional and international powers, stressed Nicolas Schmit, referring in particular to Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. "Iran understands that this is going to be their first test to see whether they can play a more constructive role after the nuclear deal", explained the Minister. The EU also underlines the importance of preserving state structures and functions, in order to ensure security, order and the provision of basic services to the people of Syria during a political transition, stated Nicolas Schmit.
We can also contribute towards bringing the different strands of the Syrian political and military opposition together behind a common vision and purpose, he stated. He then referred to a meeting held in July, which brought together representatives of the two main umbrella groups of the political opposition. During the meeting, they agreed on a draft roadmap for the future political transition.
"None of this is going to be easy", admitted Nicolas Schmit, pointing out that the conflict has multiple players with many diverging objectives. Despite the recent military escalation, the Minister is convinced that "a military escalation in the civil war will lead nowhere". "Fighting terrorism - fighting the groups defined as terrorists by the United Nations - is one thing. It does not mean fighting alongside the regime in the civil war. That will only provoke a matching increase in the arms supplied to the opposition by some regional powers", clarified Nicolas Schmit.
Among the measures that would promote de-escalation and peace, Nicolas Schmit referred to an end to the bombing and shelling of civilian areas, an end to the use of barrel bombs - commitments which he believes could go a long way towards fostering sufficient trust to enable real dialogue on transition to begin. "We can also intensify our humanitarian diplomacy", he added.
The Union is committed to playing its part in supporting the UN-led efforts, concluded Nicolas Schmit, who believes that "faced with so much suffering on our doorstep, it is our duty to respond".
"An end to the Syrian conflict is in the interests of the European Union and, although there will be no easy solution, the EU is actively working towards a political solution"
During the debate that followed, the main political groups stressed the need to find a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict. Many called for the EU to show more leadership and to play a decisive role by entering into dialogue with both the major powers and regional actors in the Syrian conflict. Some denounced the EU's "failure" or "sluggishness" in taking action. The interpretation to be given to the Russian intervention has generated a lot of debate and is considered in turn to be a complication of the crisis, an act directed against Europe, an attempt to blackmail Europe with regard to the Ukraine crisis or even, for the extreme right, a beneficial action.
Nicolas Schmit responded by reiterating the need to fight terrorist groups and, at the same time, support the UN-led peace efforts. He called for all actors, including Russia, to work together to find a political solution to strengthen the fight against terrorism, which would lead to a lasting solution through a transition based on the agreement of all parties concerned, as provided for in the Geneva Communiqué. An end to the Syrian conflict is in the interests of the European Union, emphasised Nicolas Schmit. And although there is no easy solution, due to the complex nature of the conflict which has both an internal and external dimension, he gave his reassurance that the EU would be actively working towards a political solution.
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